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December: Molly O'Hare

January 1, 2019

I'm so incredibly excited to have my good friend Molly O'Hare on the blog today. She wrote some of my favorite books this year! If you haven't met Lord Waffles in Stumbling Into Him or Dog in Teased By Fire you are definitely missing out!

Here's my interview with the awesome Molly O'Hare!

Can you tell me what inspired your latest novel? Where did the idea come from?​

My latest release was Teased by Fire, and surprisingly enough it came from a dream. One night I dreamt about a scene from the novel, I woke up and wrote it all down. I was in the middle of writing Stumbling Into Him, so I had to put it on hold, but whenever I had an idea, I’d quickly jot it down. Most of my stories come from dreams or real life experiences I’ve had… like getting hit in the face and chipping my tooth. What can I say? I’m incredibly clumsy, accident prone, oh and apparently have some wild and crazy dreams.

What does your workday look like?

Every morning I wake up around six. I then lay in bed reading or messing on my phone for about an hour. I hit the gym or go for a walk, come back and then write.

I write per chapter. When I sit down I first go over the last chapter I finshed then write the next one. I write until the chapter is done. This is about the time I remember I need to eat. I’ve also realized the moment I start killing off characters I need to grab a granola bar. Thankfully I keep them at my desk now. Back to my workday. Once the chapter is done, I walk away. When I come back which might be that day or the next I start the process all over again. I go over the previous chapter and then write the next.

If you could co-write a novel with anyone, who would it be?

Whoa. That’s a tough question. There are so many authors out there that are my absolute favorite. I would have to say, R.L. Mathewson. Then again, if we are being honest… which we are, there is a list a mile long of who I’d like to write with. Angela Verdenius, Annika Martin, J.M. Madden… and that’s only a few.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Do not get caught up in what everyone else is doing. When you do, you become just like them, and in a business that has thousands of books released every single day you need to stand out. Find your own path. Don’t take classes to learn what that person did to make it big, find it on your own. Follow what you feel is right. Just because all these authors did it does not mean you need to as well. I am not knocking classes or people that take them, I have taken some myself, but in the end, I’ve found when everyone jumps into the same class then everybody does the exact same thing. Once again you get thrown into the stream with every fish swimming the same way. It’s okay to try classes here and there. I just want to say keep in mind although classes can have great information, you need to find what works for you. And, what works for you might not be what everyone else is doing… Oh, and how could I forget, write for you. Seriously, if it makes you happy then write it. People are going to judge you no matter what. You might as well be judged for doing something that made you happy instead of trying to please everyone.

What’s a genre you haven’t written but would like to try?

I really want to write a PNR Shifter novel. I’ve had an idea for the longest time for one. One day I plan on writing it. I don’t know if people would read it, but case in point to what I just wrote. I don’t really give a crap if they do or don’t. It will make me happy to write it so I will. However, I have about a million more ideas that need to be written first.

What are your hobbies outside of writing?

I don’t know if it’s well known or not but I dabble in Improv or improvisation. I find I am at my freest when I’m on stage making people laugh. I have one requirement of each day, and that is to laugh, at least once. My goal is to make others laugh too, but I’ll settle with me getting a good chuckle in.

If you had to go to dinner with one of your characters, who would it be, where would you go, and why?

I don’t think I could pick. All the females I’ve written have huge chunks of me in them. If I were to have lunch with them, it would be like having lunch with myself.

Who am I kidding, it would be Lord Waffles from Stumbling Into Him. Even though Holly is super clumsy like me, Olive is all UFO and Bigfoot, like me and Maggie is so quick-witted it’s like I’m talking to myself, Lord Waffles is the winner. Don’t tell my Corgi though. She's the inspiration for Lord Waffles, and knowing her she’ll probably say I’m cheating on her and then shun me for a week.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Pantser. I cannot plot to save my life. I know it works for some people, but I write by seeing a movie play out in my head (hence why I write third person and past tense). When I have plotted, I already know the ending of the movie and it’s not fun for me anymore. My favorite part when writing is the surprises that come along and throw me for a loop. You know, that thing that happened in Teased by Fire had me all over the place for a full day before I could write again. That’s what I live for.

Teased by Fire is about a girl named Olive that said screw you to the world and is true to herself. Then her best friends older brother comes into her life, and everything gets flipped upside down. Hank always had a thing for Olive, but due to the unspoken rule that you can’t have on your sister’s friends he left it alone. However, that changed the moment he found out Olive’s secret.

What’s your favorite book?

I honestly couldn’t tell you because I have so many. I’m someone who rereads books all the time. I have my go-to books for each mood I’m in. Sometimes it’s PNR, sometimes is contemporary, sci-fi, thriller, you name it. If every day you would ask me what’s my favorite book I’d have a different answer for you each time.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received (Can be writing related or life in general)?

People are going to judge no matter what so do whatever the hell you want anyway.

What’s next? (book-wise)

I have three books coming out next year. The first is the next installment of Stumbling Into Him. Lord Waffles rides again! I also have an Irish book and a second chance romance that will make their way into the world in 2019. – That kinda sounded like I was having a baby. Huh? Well, I guess in a weird way I am. I’m having book babies.

Would you rather … have free Wi-Fi wherever you go or be able to drink unlimited free coffee at any coffee shop?

Neither. Haha. Free Wi-Fi is extremely dangerous. Hackers love free Wi-Fi. And, I gave up coffee a while ago. I’m not a big fan of drinking something I have to add a crap ton of sugar to make taste good. Now tea on the other hand. I am a tea obsessed crazy person. If the option were tea, I’d take that in a heartbeat. Especially Chai Tea. Chai Tea is like Christmas in a cup! If you don’t believe me, try it and them tell me I was wrong. You can’t. It’s Christmas in a dang cup! CHRISTMAS in a CUP!

Where do you write and can we see a picture?

I have a few places I write. I mainly write at Starbucks or my tiny desk. It might be small, but I love it. Sure, here is a picture:

*I LOVE it!*

Which of your characters is your favorite and why?

I don’t think I could pick. Like I said before my characters have so much of me in them. And when it comes to the animals…Even though I say Lord Waffles all the time, I love all the animal characters equally.

If you could have a character guest appearance in any of your books from another author's series, who would it be?

I can’t think of anyone right now, but because I am who I am, I would want a shifter or an alien to show up in one of my stories to see how everyone would handle it. I think it would be hilarious. Could you imagine someone coming in shifting to a bear in front of Olive? Just thinking of it makes me laugh. Actually, any of the Harry Potter characters would be amazing too. I don’t know where that last thought came from but Dobby would fit in well in Teased by Fire. I wonder how Dog would deal with it?

What are your writing must-haves?

The only must-haves I need are tea or water and a thunderstorm playlist I have. I write best when I listen to storms. Other than that, I’m pretty free when it comes to what I need.

What is your favorite Christmas movie?

A Christmas Story. Followed by A Christmas Vacation and Elf. BEST MOVIES EVER! I know every word of each movie and watch them all year long. People that know me, know I’m obsessed with Christmas.

What do you and your family do for Christmas? Or what traditions do you have?

Surprisingly enough we don’t have any traditions we celebrate. We have the normal movies that are a must watch, and when I was younger, we always made gingerbread houses. The day after Thanksgiving I usually start going for drives at night to look at the lights. I blast Christmas music and get lost in random neighborhoods. Sometimes people stare at me weird but I’m good with that. It happens more often than not in my world.

When do you put up your Christmas decorations?

October. Yes, I am that person, and I have no shame in that.

What is your favorite thing to make for Christmas?

I make these tiny personnel apple pies. They are super fun, and it makes the whole house smell delicious.

Yes or No to the following:

Are they Christmas movies?

Die Hard: Yes

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Yes

Harry Potter: No

What is your favorite Christmas ornament?

Would you believe my favorite ornament is actually my brothers “first Christmas” one? He’s older than me, but I remember always putting that specific ornament on the tree year after year. It has a tiny child maybe two years old looking at a fireplace looking for Santa. I'm not sure why but that’s my all-time favorite Christmas ornament. Go figure.

Before I go I want to send a huge thank you to Sadie. I’ve been friends with her since the very beginning of my writing career. I met her days after Hollywood Dreams came out and she’s been a huge role in my life ever since. She is such a wonderful, kind, kick butt person. Plus, she always lets me be my crazy self. She’s a keeper. Keep kicking ass Sadie. You rock!

YOU TOO MOLLY! <3 Love you, girl! Thank you so much for letting me interview you!

Bio:

Much like any author out there, sleeping does not come easily to Molly. As it turns out, she has horrible insomnia. When she was younger, to help herself fall asleep she would recite stories. Each night she'd pick up where the story left off previously until the tale was complete. One morning, after she finished a particularly fun adventure, she decided she wanted to start sharing them with others. A few months later, here she is, sharing her lack of sleep with all of you. Who said the stories in our heads can't be fun for others?

From the author of Stumbling Into Him comes another hilarious story that will have you laughing until you cry.

Olive has always been content living an anti-social existence while letting the characters she writes about fulfill her wild side. She’s worked hard to achieve a zero human interaction life. However, that came to an end when out of nowhere her best friend announced she’s moving out, and her brother was moving in. Not only does Olive now have to deal with the guy that has teased her their whole life, but he also came with a cat the size of a human child.

Hank’s had a thing for Olive for as long as he could remember. When he realized she needed a roommate, he jumped at the chance. Why wouldn’t he when annoying Olive had always been his favorite pastime? Then, one day when Hank let his curiosity get the better of him, he discovered Olive had a whole other side of her she kept hidden away.

Now, all Hank had to do was convince Olive life was a heck of a lot more fun when you add some fire to it. Honestly, what could possibly go wrong?

Holly has spent her whole life as a walking disaster, from running into walls, tripping over invisible objects, and always being in the wrong place at the wrong time. When a seemingly normal outing taking her overly opinionated Corgi for a walk resulted in an object to the face, she didn’t think her day could get any worse. The moment she opened her eyes and saw the Adonis standing over her, she knew she’d been wrong. It was about to get a whole lot worse.

Ben’s lived his whole life disobeying his uptight, self-centered, shrew of a mother. Instead of going into the family business, he followed his dreams and opened his veterinarian clinic. One ordinary day at the dog park, and a rogue dog toy later, he found himself captivated by the curvy woman that had a feistiness which set him on fire.

It could only get better from here, right? Too bad his mother had other plans.

Who knew going toe to toe with your Hollywood crush turned enemy would send Maggie’s world upside down? Hollywood Dreams is filled with humor, passion, and a Siamese cat named Pocket who makes an art form out of causing havoc.Maggie Connolly’s first experience on a real film set couldn’t have gone any worse. One wrong turn through a closed door sends her dreams to tatters. Now, Trevor McCain, Hollywood’s “it” boy had it out for her.

Tired of always being pushed around, and no longer willing to sit on the sidelines, Maggie called Trevor out for who he really was.

Trevor McCain’s Hollywood’s leading man and he’s not afraid to use that to his advantage. Men wanted to be him, and women wanted to be with him. He got everything he wanted, without question.

Until chubby, plain jane Maggie Connolly.

Maggie looked him right in the eyes and told him to shove it. Who knew her confidence and ability to tell him off might be exactly what he’d been looking for?